Bracelet clasp



Nov. 22, 1938. P. MANICKAS 2,137,920

I BRACELET CLASP 1 Filed April 14, 1938 W QQS Patented Nov. 22, 1938 {,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,137,920 BRACELET CLASP Peter Manickas, Pawtucket, R. 1. Application April 14, 1938, Serial No. 202,116

2 Claims. 7 (c1. 24 2so) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bracelet clasp of the character disclosed in application for patent filed by Peter Manickas for Bracelet on March 24, 1937,

; Serial Number 132,733.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel construction of bracelet clasp wherein the clasp that is anchored to one end of a bracelet section comprises a plate having a tongue struck out therefrom and of resilient character with the free end of the tongue bent outwardly substantially at right angles and intermediate the ends of the tongue and arched inwardly at the terminal end to provide a finger-operated release for the clasp tongue, a lug or abutment struck out from the tongue cooperating with a keeper therefor carried by the adjacent end of the other bracelet section.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

2 In the drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevational view of a bracelet embodying a clasp constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view, similar to 30 Figure 1, showing the bracelet sections opened at their separable connections and further showing the clasp plate carried by the end of one. section;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the inner faces of the separable ends of the bracelet sections in separated position;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a clasp blank with a resilient clasp tongue struck therefrom;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the clasp blank with the tongue bent into clasp formation;

Figure 6 is a side edge elevational view of the plate clasp; and

Figure '1 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line 11 of Figure 5.

45 The clasp for holding the separable ends of the bracelet sections together as shown in Figures 4 to 7 detached from the bracelet sections comprises a substantially rectangular metal plate In having an elongated tongue ll struck therefrom with the free ends of the tongue slightly tapering as at 12, the corners of the blank 16 spaced from the free end of the tongue being slightly rounded as at l3 for purposes presently to appear. The tongue H is resilient, the blank 10 being arched 55 in conformity with the curvature of the bracelet sections with which the same is associated and said tongue I l is offset from the blank and openmg l4 resulting from the struck-out tongue as shown in Figures 6 and '1. The free end of the tongue I l adjacent the tapered end 12 is bent to provide an operating finger piece I 5 for the tongue that includes a portion 16 bent outwardly at right angles and an inwardly curved terminal end 11. A latch lug I8 is struck up from the tongue ll adjacent the base of the outwardly bent portion 16 of the finger piece I5 and has an abutment shoulder I9 spacing the finger piece !5 as clearly shown in Figures 6 and '7.

The bracelet as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, comprises a pair of arcuate sections 20 and 21 having an appropriate design 22 upon the outer sides thereof, a pair of adjacent ends of the bracelet sections 20 and 2| being hingedly connected together as at 23 while the other adjacent ends of the bracelet sections have the clasp plate I0 associated therewith. The bracelet sections are formed of band material with inwardly directed side flanges 24 defining opposed channels with one end of the clasp blank It] received in the channels or flanges 24 and retained. therein by lugs 25 struck out from the side flanges 24 as shown in Figure 3, the end of the blank 10 having the rounded corners l3 projecting from the clasp plate carrying bracelet section 2! a length substantially equal to the length of the resilient tongue II, the clasp end of the bracelet section 2| having a central or cut away portion 26 providing a clearance for the upstanding portion 16 of the finger piece l5. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the clasp end of the bracelet section 20 has a keeper lug 21 struck up therefrom defining an abutment shoulder 28 for the reception of the latch lug IS, the abutment shoulder IQ of the latch lug 18 being engaged with the abutment wall 28 of the keeper lug 21, the latch lug and keeper lug being so positioned as to be engaged with each other when the adjacent ends of the bracelet sections 2'!) and 2| are in abutting engagement with each other.

With the bracelet sections in their closed or clasped positions as shown in Figure 1, the finger piece ll: of the resilient tongue ll projects outwardly of the plane of the bracelet and to release or open the bracelet sections, it is only necessary to press inwardly on the finger piece 11 to disengage the latch lug 18 from the keeper lug 21, the bracelet sections 20 and 2| being then free to move upon their hinge connection 23. An eyelet 29 is carried by each bracelet section 20 and 21 adjacent the clasped ends thereof for attachment of a chain for limiting opening movement of the bracelet sections. It will be observed that the clasp plate l0, resilient tongue H and finger piece l5 are struck from a single piece of material, the free end of the struck out tongue ll being bent to form the operating finger piece IS. The rounded corners I3 of the clasp blank l act as a guide in directing the projecting end of the clasp plate into the bracelet section 20 while the cut out portion 26 in the end of the bracelet section 2| through which the finger piece l5 extends also acts as a guide to cause the latch lug IE to be engaged with the latch keeper 2].

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent, and while there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:-

1. In a device of the class described, a separable clasp connection between the ends of bracelet sections including a substantially rectangular plate anchored to one section and projecting outwardly of the end thereof with the corners of the projecting end rounded, a resilient tongue struck-out from the plate with the end of the tongue attached to the plate disposed adjacent the projecting end of the plate, the free end of the tongue having a portion bent outwardly substantially at right angles to the tongue and curved laterally and inwardly at its outer end-to form a finger operating piece for the tongue, a latch lug struck-up from the tongue adjacent the base of the outwardly bent portion of the finger piece, a latch keeper socket carried by the other bracelet section adjacent its free end to receive the latch lug and said last named section having side guide channels receiving the side edges of the projecting end of the latch plate with the rounded corners of the latter guiding the latch plate into said bracelet section.

2. In a device of the class described, a separable clasp connection between the ends of bracelet sections including a substantially rectangular plate anchored to one section and projecting outwardly of the end thereof with the corners of the projecting end rounded, a resilient tongue struck-out from the plate with the end of the tongue attached to the plate disposed adjacent the projecing end of the plate, the free end of the tongue having a portion bent outwardly substantially at right angles to the tongue and curved inwardly at its outer end to form a finger operatingpiece for the tongue, the end of the bracelet section carrying the latch plate having an end cut-away portion providing clearance for the finger piece, a latch lug struck-up from the tongue adjacent the outwardly bent portion of the finger piece, the other bracelet section having a latch keeper socket adjacent its free end to receive the latch lug and said last named section having side guide channels re ceiving the side edges of the projecting end of the latch plate with the rounded corners of the latter guiding the latch plate into said bracelet section.

PETER MANICKAS. 

